Ex-YABATECH bursar remanded in prison

A Lagos High Court has remanded dismissed bursar of Yaba College of Technology, Mr Olugbenga Ibirogba, in prison custody pending the hearing of his bail application on December 5, 2016, according to a statement by the polytechnic’s Director of Public Relations, Dr Charles Oni.

The state government had last year charged Messrs Charles Akharayi and Olu Ibirogba to court on an eight-count charge of threat to life, impersonation, defamation and conspiracy to cause public harm, among others, before the Honourable Justice Akintoye.

When the case came up on Monday, the court threw out the accused persons’ objection, and pronounced inter-alia, that it had jurisdiction to entertain the suit, and that the charges were not abuse of court processes in any form.

The pleas of Messrs Akharayi and Ibirogba were taken, as they pleaded not guilty, thereby setting a pace for trial.

Justice Akintoye then fixed hearing of their bail applications for December 5, 2016 and ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison custody, till next date of adjournment when the court will hear the application to grant them bail.

The Lagos State government in the suit ‘State of Lagos versus Charles Akahrayi and Olu Ibirogba and Others’, in charge number LD/1490/2015, averred that Ibirogba with one Charles Akharayi and Samuel Erhunwunse provoked a breach of public peace by offensive publications contrary to Section 57 (1) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

The trio was also charged with disclosure of Official Secrets  on the internet, Sahara Reporters and Premium Times, as well as Mainstream Media contrary to Section 59 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 201, Public Servant Removing Document to bring false accusation, which they knew contrary to Section 60 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011and making false statements to a public officer to media houses with the intention of causing injury or annoyance contrary to Section 96 (a) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused were also charged with conspiracy to cause injury to the person, or reputation of the rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr Margaret Kudirat Ladipo; cause fear and alarm to the public, knowing the reports were false, contrary to Section 39 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011.

The last charge was that Ibirogba impersonated top public officers contrary to Section (78) (a) and (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, by presenting himself to the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission in Abuja on February 25, 2014 as Honourable A.E.O Akins, thereby impersonating a public officer.